Washington (CNN) - The Democratic National Committee said Tuesday that it was launching a paid media campaign that targets Republican congressional leaders, blaming them for shutting down the federal government and risking a default on the nation's obligations.

The DNC told CNN that it is beginning the first phase of its campaign with robocalls and online ad campaigns utilizing Twitter and Google ads targeting voters in the home states of House Speaker John Boehner, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Sens. Rand Paul, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz.
"I'm calling from the DNC with a GOP Shutdown Alert. Congressman John Boehner was an architect of the GOP's government shutdown," starts the recorded telephone call to voters in Boehner's Ohio district.

The party committee also says it will run national ads on Facebook and Google to try and engage supporters around the country over the one week old partial shutdown of the federal government.

"We're holding Republicans accountable until they end this manufactured crisis, call a vote to fully fund the government through a clean continuing spending resolution, and allow the nation to pay its bills," Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the DNC chair, said in a statement.

The DNC's GOP counterpart pushed back against the paid media campaign.

"The DNC might want to remember the words of Senator Obama who voted against raising the debt ceiling in 2006 after saying that 'raising America's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure'. Since he took office the national debt has doubled. So instead of playing games, they should demand Senate Democrats allow a vote to open the government and cut spending to avert a debt crisis," Republican National Committee Communications Director Sean Spicer told CNN, in response to the DNC push.

Both political parties have been pointing fingers at each other over the shutdown and the lack of any deal to raise the nation's debt ceiling before an October 17 deadline. New national polling indicates that more people blame or are angry at Republicans than Democrats or President Obama, but the surveys suggest that all sides are taking a hit.

soundoff(36 Responses)

It now seems Democrats are to blame for govt shut down.

As I am listening to both sides it is now clear to me that the democrats are more to blame, although the republicans have also contributed. I am more critical of the Pres Obabama, he is the leader of our (supposed) great nation and the whole world is seeing how he can't lead, can't bring the parties together to agree in what is the BEST path for America and Americans.

Whatever the excuses are it is clear that America does not have a trustworthy leader who can lead and that is what is gong to be remembered long after the budget is signed. We have lost so much credibility as it pertains to the perception that other countries have of our country, its leadership and fundamental weakness – this country can't come together and the whole world is seeing America implode.

May God have mercy on America.

October 8, 2013 02:16 pm at 2:16 pm |

Rudy NYC

CA Independent wrote:

Rudy, "Sorry, no negotiating with terrorists."

Another lunatic fringe liberal comment. Where do you go from here to make a more stupid statement? Honestly, I dont think it's possible.
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I'm no lunatic. I'm a sane moderate. Only people on the extreme right level such accusations. But, I have some answers to your question.

@Dutch
"The deficit has been cut significantly under President Obama, so your argument is your futile and juvenile."

You do realize there is a difference between "deficit" and "debt", don't you? Oh, and why do you think the deficit has been cut? It's due to the sequester.
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I hope the sequestration continues.

October 8, 2013 02:26 pm at 2:26 pm |

Piwacket

If I were a DEM. you would have left my last post there for all to read, but because you didn.t let me have FREE speech , won't be reading anything you have to say or write again

October 8, 2013 02:28 pm at 2:28 pm |

333maxwell

The truth takes few words.. The GOP is insane.

Only ONE party has the ability to open Government this minute if they WANT TO. And it isn't the Democrats. Only ONE party is making THREATS to close down the whole thing BY INTENT.

Pride goeth before a fall, too bad they will drag us all down with them, and others who once called themselves patriots, will cheer the self inflicted Republican wound to the nation.

I live for the day that America does not have the need to find distinction in the color of peoples skin. I would like to believe that America voted for President Obama because we truly believed he was the best qualified MAN that was entrusted to lead our nation, not because he was black, but because Americans believed he was the best qualified! PERIOD!

Every time people make comments about the color of his skin in any event only serves to divide us more. It does not matter what the color of the man's skin is. I find it offensive when people say that persons who disagree with the president are prejudice because he is black. That is sickening, WE are all the same AMERICANS, no matter what.

President Obama makes his decisions because he is a man, because he is an American. Period!

October 8, 2013 02:37 pm at 2:37 pm |

Thomas

@It now seems Democrats are to blame for govt shut down.
As I am listening to both sides it is now clear to me that the democrats are more to blame, although the republicans have also contributed. I am more critical of the Pres Obabama, he is the leader of our (supposed) great nation and the whole world is seeing how he can't lead, can't bring the parties together to agree in what is the BEST path for America and Americans.

Whatever the excuses are it is clear that America does not have a trustworthy leader who can lead and that is what is gong to be remembered long after the budget is signed. We have lost so much credibility as it pertains to the perception that other countries have of our country, its leadership and fundamental weakness – this country can't come together and the whole world is seeing America implode.

May God have mercy on America.

=======

You couldn't make Obama a one term president , so now want to burn the house down and destroy the president for your own ego , Nice !

Grow up and stop acting like a spoiled teenager !

October 8, 2013 02:48 pm at 2:48 pm |

T-Rex

I have only 1 ? – have u ever heard President Obama say that he loves this country? We neec to elect officials who can negotiate, but we especially need a president that can lead!

October 8, 2013 02:50 pm at 2:50 pm |

Brian

"That is sickening, WE are all the same AMERICANS, no matter what."

You are sadly mistaken if you do not think there is racial degregation by white men in the U.S. Not even 200 years ago, the South threatened to divide the union with this issue a key debate. Do you forget MLK and segregation in the 60's? Where did it take place? The south. Where do the men live that are rolling on the floor kicking and screaming because a black man is leading "their" country? the south. Where is unethical immigration reform breeding? You guessed it.
And for the record, there is no room in my America for this archaic behavior and action.

October 8, 2013 02:52 pm at 2:52 pm |

Rudy NYC

You do realize there is a difference between "deficit" and "debt", don't you? Oh, and why do you think the deficit has been cut? It's due to the sequester.
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You do realize that the deficit was being cut *before* there was sequestration, and much faster.